Just how bad is Ferrari's bad start?

Ferrari lost a major off-track battle on Friday and, to compound its frustration, its Paul Ricard practice pace didn't look too handy either. The day offered some successes, but the French GP weekend still looks as though it will be another disappointing one at the start of 2019

The 2019 season has been a continuous series of disappointments for Ferrari, and Friday's failed attempt to review Sebastian Vettel's Canadian Grand Prix penalty was a stark reminder that even when the car can beat Mercedes, it doesn't. Practice in France was another blow for Ferrari.

As team principal Mattia Binotto said ahead of the weekend, the updates brought here are important not only for performance but also - and more significantly - because they have the potential to validate Ferrari's longer-term development strategy.